What's happening
This bill allows the Mattituck park commissioners to appoint, rather than elect, the park district treasurer.
Why it matters
Shifts financial oversight from voters to commissioners. By allowing park commissioners to appoint the treasurer instead of holding elections, the bill centralizes control over the district’s finances in a smaller group, potentially increasing efficiency but reducing direct community input.
May impact transparency and accountability. The appointed treasurer will be answerable to the commissioners rather than the electorate, which could change how financial decisions are scrutinized and how responsive the treasurer is to district residents.
Reflects broader trends in governance. This change aligns with a move in some local governments to professionalize and streamline administrative roles, but it also raises questions about the balance between expertise, oversight, and democratic participation.
Could affect future candidate pools. The treasurer position, no longer subject to public election, might attract a different set of applicants—possibly those with more specialized financial experience, but potentially fewer ties to the local community.
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Who cares
Headline styles
Park District Treasurer Appointed
Plain English, a few words. Used as the page title.
Sponsors
No co-sponsors yet.
History
- Substituted by A7522B
- Amended on third reading (t) 5776b
- Advanced to third reading
- 2nd report cal.
- 1st report cal.1113
- Print number 5776a
- Amend and recommit to local government
- Referred to local government
Companion bill
The same bill in the other chamber. A bill becomes law when one version passes both houses and the governor signs it, so either number can carry it.
Let Park Board Pick Treasurer
Signed by Governor · Sponsor Anthony H. Palumbo
Full text
2 pagesUnderlined is new[Struck] is removedOfficial text on nysenate.gov ↗
STATE OF NEW YORK
5776--B Cal. No. 1113
2017-2018 Regular Sessions
IN SENATE
April 28, 2017
Introduced by Sen. LAVALLE -- read twice and ordered printed, and when printed to be committed to the Committee on Local Government -committee discharged, bill amended, ordered reprinted as amended and recommitted to said committee -- reported favorably from said committee, ordered to first and second report, ordered to a third reading, amended and ordered reprinted, retaining its place in the order of third reading
AN ACT to amend chapter 924 of the laws of 1941 relating to legalizing acts and proceedings of the town board of the town of Southold, Suffolk county relating to the establishment of the Mattituck park district, in relation to appointment of a treasurer by the park commissioners
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assembly, do enact as follows:
Section 1. Sections 1 and 2 of chapter 924 of the laws of 1941 relating to legalizing acts and proceedings of the town board of the town of Southold, Suffolk county relating to the establishment of the Mattituck park district, section 1 as amended by chapter 459 of the laws of 2009, are amended to read as follows:
Section 1. The Mattituck park district in the town of Southold, Suffolk county, heretofore established by the town board of the town of Southold pursuant to the petition of resident taxpayers of the district, is hereby continued as a public park district in said town. The legal voters of the district, as determined by the Suffolk county board of elections list of eligible voters in effect as of the previous general election, shall elect three residents of such park district thereof to be the park commissioners, for terms of one, two and three years respectively[; and]. The park commissioners shall [also elect] appoint a treasurer in such park district [for a term of three years,] who shall be entitled to receive and have custody of the funds of the district and pay out the same for the purposes herein provided for, on the order of
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD11146-04-7
S. 5776--B 2
the park commissioners. The treasurer, before entering upon the duties of his or her office, shall give such security for the safe-keeping and lawful application of the funds of the district as the town board of the town of Southold may require. Additional security shall be given from time to time for the safe-keeping and lawful application of the proceeds of town bonds or certificates of indebtedness issued and sold for any improvement or acquisition of land voted by residents of the district and approved by the town board of the town. The commissioners constituting the board of park commissioners, elected pursuant to chapter sixtyone of the laws of nineteen hundred twenty-four, now in office, shall constitute the board of park commissioners herein provided for until the expiration of their present terms, respectively, and the present incumbent of the office of the treasurer of said district shall continue to be the treasurer of said district until the expiration of his or her term and until his or her successor is [elected] appointed and has qualified. The park commissioners shall receive no compensation for their services, but shall be reimbursed for their expenses actually and necessarily incurred by them in the performance of their duties hereunder. The treasurer shall receive [a] compensation to be fixed by the park commissioners within the amount authorized by the residents of the district. The park commissioners may employ a secretary and such other employees and technical assistants as may be necessary and fix their compensation within the amount provided therefor. Residency within the Mattituck park district shall be determined by the voter's address as set forth on the Suffolk county board of elections list of eligible voters in effect as of the previous election and shall be within the boundaries of the Mattituck park district as set forth in this chapter.
The annual estimates of amounts necessary to provide for the operation of the park district shall include estimates of amounts necessary to pay the salary of the treasurer and expenses of the park district for personal service of employees and expenses of the park commissioners, and the amount or amounts approved and voted by the residents of the district shall be included and raised by tax on taxable real property of the park district.
§ 2. The secretary of the park district, not less than thirty days prior to the expiration of the term of office of any such commissioner [or of the treasurer], shall call an election by posting notices of the election conspicuously in at least four of the most public places in said district and publishing the same in a newspaper published in the town of Southold for two weeks immediately preceding the election. Each notice of an election hereunder shall specify the offices to be filled and the date, hour and place of the election. Special elections to fill vacancies shall be called in the same manner, within thirty days after any such vacancy shall occur. All elections shall be by ballot.
§ 2. This act shall take effect immediately.
Reflowed for reading: line numbers and page breaks removed. Cite the official text.
Sponsor's memo
Title of bill
An act to amend chapter 924 of the laws of 1941 relating to legalizing acts and proceedings of the town board of the town of Southold, Suffolk county relating to the establishment of the Mattituck park district, in relation to appointment of a treasurer by the park commissioners
Purpose
To provide for the appointment of the treasurer of the Mattituck Park District.
Summary of provisions
This bill amends section one of Chapter 925 of the Laws of 1941 which created the Mattituck park District in the town of Southold, Suffolk County, by providing for an appointed rather than elected treasurer of the district. The park commissioners would appoint the treasurer.
Justification
The original park district, established in 1941,provided for an elected treasurer who had to be a resident of the district. In recent years, the annual budget of the district has grown to over one half million dollars. The size of the budget and the complexity of the accounting, bookkeeping and auditing requirements now attendant to such a position requires the knowledge and expertise of a trained financial professional. By enacting this change, which has been, endorsed by unanimous resolution of the board of commissioners, the district will have the ability to employ an individual who possesses those required skills and not be restrained by the territorial boundaries of the district.
Legislative history
New bill.
Fiscal implications
None to the State
Effective date
Immediately.
Summaries, headlines and scores are AI-generated from the official bill text. How we score bills. Source: NYS Open Legislation.